With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

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With the coronavirus stats going in the right direction, all of us at C&G Newspapers look forward to resuming publication of the St. Clair Shores Sentinel and Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle on May 27th. All other C&G newspapers will begin publishing on June 10th (Advertiser-Times on June 24th). In the meantime, continue to find local news on our website and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

Work on resurfacing the parking lot at Gino’s Surf, located on Jefferson Avenue, recently resumed thanks to a short break in the weather. The lot has to be completely finished and up to code in order for any portion of the bar or restaurant to open.

Late last year, a spokesperson for the building’s principal owner, Farquad Khalil, said both exterior and interior renovations are ongoing, with the opening of the restaurant and bar — formerly known as Luna Kai — expected in the summer.

Neither the spokesperson nor legal representation for Paradise Lake Properties, the company that purchased the site three years ago, have returned multiple phone calls for a status update.

Harrison Township Supervisor Ken Verkest said the owners were given permission to open certain portions of Gino’s Surf pending completion of the frontage, the parking lot, and once safety requirements are met.

It’s not known if the names Gino’s Surf or Luna Kai will remain, but the site plan is to continue to operate as a banquet hall, restaurant and bar. Verkest said any other changes — for example, a change in the main entrance — would have to be approved by the township. He said nothing has been brought forward and there is nothing expected.

“They said they had hoped to open in the spring, and at first they were in it like gangbusters, but that just didn’t happen,” Verkest said. “It’s just moving slow.”

Gino’s Surf closed in August 2015 when former owners Frank Nazar and his son, Frank Nazar Jr., filed for bankruptcy. They had purchased the 17,000-square-foot facility in early 2008. Soon after, a 5,540-square-foot addition was completed to house Luna Kai, the restaurant and outdoor tiki bar that overlooked Lake St. Clair.

Troy-based Paradise Lake Properties purchased the property for $1.4 million in 2016, along with $25,000 for a Class C Resort liquor license, and $75,000 for personal property and goodwill.

They planned to reopen the popular banquet hall and bar in 2017.

Verkest said the owners had previously announced plans to resurface the large asphalt parking lot, which was heavily damaged and crumbling, and improve the landscaping and surrounding fence. Paradise had also submitted plans to improve the restaurant and bar area to include the addition of a larger front vestibule, a fireplace near the entrance and a nautical front facade — which has started, but is not yet complete.

In December 2018, the spokesperson for Khalil said the banquet hall needs “a lot of remodeling” work and would open after the bar. It was also said that parking lot work would resume when the weather permitted.

Verkest said a reopening of the facility is highly-anticipated in the township.

“I do get asked when it’s opening,” he said. “It was a popular place.”